 One of the best spots with good weather, warm water and consistent waves, and within four hours' flying time of the UK is Lanzarote, in the Canary Isles. Contact Surf School Lanzarote - 0034 928 528623. Further afield, Australia is a good bet with surf schools all over the place, and it's summer there in Feb/March as well, while if you want to learn in the chill of British waters the British Surfing Association (01736 360250, email colin@britsurf.demon.co.uk) has details of approved surf schools open year-round in this country.

 Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico is great for surfing at that time of the year and there are various places in the town to learn. Puerto Angel, on the same coast, is also good. Neil Paterson

 Oleron Island off the west coast of France has an excellent surf school which is open all year round. Contact Diabolo Fun, Surf Wind School, BP l 17650 St Denis d'Oleron (email didier_lafitte@wanadoo.fr). The weather is very good, even in February. Margaret Duffy